Talking the 'Legend of Zelda' Symphony Tour

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"The Legend of Zelda" has had a huge following with Nintendo fans
over the years, and it's likely to continue for 2013 with the
forthcoming "Wind Waker" remake for Wii U and a sequel to "A Link
to the Past," just announced for Nintendo 3DS.

But if you need something to fulfill your love for "Link" in the
meantime, there's always the "Symphony of the Goddesses" tour,
which celebrates the entire Zelda legacy. The tour begins later
this month in London and wraps up in October in Grand Rapids,
Wis., with a number of stops along the way, including Paris,
Berlin, San Francisco and Austin.

TechNewsDaily spoke with "Symphony of the Goddesses" executive
producer Jason Michael Paul about what to expect with this year's
tour.

TechNewsDaily: How did you hook up with Nintendo for the
tour in the first place?

Jason Michael Paul: I have been
working with Nintendo since 2005 … [For example,] we produced the
opening of the E3 [Electronic Entertainment Expo] press event in
2011 … Of course, the success of the 25th anniversary paved the
way for the "Symphony of the Goddesses." The idea was a
collaboration. We were very flattered that they wanted to present
more concerts as part of a tour with "The Legend of Zelda." [See
also:
Nintendo's Future Lies in Past Favorites]

TND: For those people who haven't attended a video game
music concert, how would you describe it?

J.M.P.: Just imagine a giant screen suspended
above the orchestra and choir with a conductor leading over 90
musicians performing the
best soundtrack music in sync with edited footage from the
games that we have grown to love and know all too well. Amplified
by the fact that there are thousands of people just like you and
me enjoying the concert in a beautiful concert hall.

TND: We understand that Nintendo composer Koji Kondo and
his team were involved with last year's tour. Will he be
back again for this one?

J.M.P.: They are involved every step of the way.
All approvals go through Nintendo and his team.

TND: What changes are to be expected with the 2013
tour?

J.M.P.: We will be performing new music for the
2013 tour as well as presenting new visuals. There will also be
new surprises for fans to enjoy. The idea of "second quest" is to
present a show that is different from season one.

TND: How are venues for the tour determined? Do you
ask the fans?

J.M.P.: We perform concerts in major cities and
also in cities where we partner with orchestras like Grand Rapids
Symphony. We definitely listen to the fans in terms of places
that we play. We rely heavily on our fans' input.

TND: How many people are involved on the tour in
all?

J.M.P.: We have a team of six people that tour
with the production. Everything else is sourced locally,
including the musicians and choir. We work with contractors and
orchestras that have musicians under contract as part of the AFM
[American Federation of Musicians].

TND: Between this tour and Tommy Tallarico's "Video Games
Live" tour, do you think live orchestral performances of video
game themes are on the rise?

J.M.P.: They have been. Tommy and I have been
producing video game music concerts since 2004. I hope it is on
the rise!